ITV

Tag: MTV2

  • MTV president Stephen Friedman quits; Discovery’s Sean Atkins steps in

    MTV president Stephen Friedman quits; Discovery’s Sean Atkins steps in

    MUMBAI: After a seven year stint, MTV president Stephen Friedman is stepping down from his post. The move comes in the wake of ratings drop that MTV’s parent company Viacom Inc. is witnessing on many of its channels.

     

    Soon after Friedman announced his resignation, Viacom said that it had appointed Discovery Communications general manager and executive vice president of digital media and strategy Sean Atkins as MTV’s new president. 

     

    Atkins will be overseeing all creative and business operations for the youth entertainment brand and its sister networks, MTV2 and mtvU. He will report to Viacom Music and Entertainment Group president Doug Herzog.

     

    MTV’s programming co-heads, executive vice president and head of scripted development Mina Lefevre and head of reality programming and executive vice president of series development Lauren Dolgen will report directly to Atkins.

     

    “Sean is smart, creative, passionate, and remarkably energized about the sea change at hand in our industry. The strength of MTV lies in its ability to constantly reinvent, and Sean’s forward-thinking, versatile leadership will ensure our brand and business continue to evolve and deliver for our audience,” said Herzog.

     

    With experience at Discovery, HBO, and Yahoo!, Atkins has held leadership positions across development, digital media, production, strategy, marketing, product development, and consumer products. He was a driving force behind Discovery’s 2012 acquisition of millennial-focused Revision3, among the first strategic acquisitions of a multi-channel network by a major media and entertainment company.

     

    Prior to joining the digital media team, Atkins ran the West Coast for Discovery Studios, Discovery Communications’ full-service production studio that develops and produces original programming.

     

    Atkins joined Discovery from HBO where, as senior vice president of digital media. Previously, he was head of programming and development at Yahoo! Entertainment. Before that he was acting-COO for Vulcan Programming. He served concurrently as executive vice president of A. Smith & Co, overseeing development and production for the company. Previously, Atkins also held positions with Warner Bros., Mediaconnex and Disney.

     

    Meanwhile, in his parting note via an internal memo, Friedman said, “After 18 years, including seven at the helm of MTV, it reminds me of what originally inspired me to work here. When I was hired to create the pro-social department, I was told, ‘Your job will be to use MTV’s superpowers for good.’ While I had personally experienced the cultural power of MTV, it wasn’t until I started working here that I understood the true power behind the brand. Those ‘superpowers’ originate with you. Each of you brings your own calling, your own desire to take risks and make new history.”

     

    Speaking about his next move, he added, “Having been blessed to work with you and be part of this remarkable brand for the better part of my career, I am leaving to return full time to what tempts my soul to rise. My next adventure will be focused full time on giving back, on social impact, and on applying what I’ve learned from MTV about the power of brands and storytelling to create positive change. What MTV understood at its inception, a growing part of the world is now actively pursuing. We’re in the midst of a boom of mission driven companies that are redefining business while tackling some of the biggest social challenges we face.”

  • GRB Entertainment brings new entertainment shows, docus to MIPCOM

    GRB Entertainment brings new entertainment shows, docus to MIPCOM

    MUMBAI: LA-based distribution and production company, GRB Entertainment will taking a host of new shows to MIPCOM 2015, including several factual entertainment programs, reality series, and documentaries.

     

    Produced for CMT, the show Angel Among Us follows the incredible stories of people who believe they were saved by angels from tragedies like car crashes and terrorist attacks.

     

    Another show FBI Takedowns, produced for Discovery Networks, takes viewers along for thrilling manhunts as FBI agents track the world’s most wanted criminals. On the other hand, Ain’t That America produced for MTV2 will feature rapper/comedian Lil Duval exploring the most outrageous viral videos showing how dangerous and stupid people can get.

     

    Go behind-the-scenes of New York’s #1 radio station on This is Hot 97, with guests Kanye West, Macklemore, Rick Ross and Waleamongst others has been produced for VH1. Another show produced for CMT is My Big Redneck Family, which follows America’s favourite redneck family and their everyday shenanigans and parenting misadventures.  

     

    MANswers is a comedic late-night series that answers the burning questions men have been dying to ask, but never felt comfortable asking their friends. The show has been produced for Spike.

     

    GRB Entertainment international distribution SVP Mike Lolato said, “GRB pushes the envelope when it comes to factual entertainment and our MIPCOM slate demonstrates our catalog’s diverse mix. We are pleased to offer programs highlighting everything from angels to rednecks, from music to football, from crazy Americans doing dangerous stunts to thrilling FBI manhunts and much more. GRB’s new shows have earned great ratings in the US and are sure to please audiences around the world.”

     

    Apart from these series, GRB is also bringing two new documentaries to MIPCOM. From Morgan Spurlock, the producer of Super Size Me, comes Meet The Hitlers exploring the question – what if you had the most notorious name in the world? This documentary examines the relationship between a person’s name and their identity by exploring the lives of people who are linked by the name Hitler.

     

    All Eyes on Brazil is a unique documentary covering the 2014 FIFA World Cup, and how the event dramatically impacted cities around World Cup host country Brazil.

  • MTV, Verizon Wireless launch live music series ‘MTV Live’

    MTV, Verizon Wireless launch live music series ‘MTV Live’

    MUMBAI: MTV and Verizon Wireless announced a new event series titled ‘MTV Live’ featuring live artist performances from the big names in music. The monthly series will be recorded in front of a live audience at the Hard Rock Café in New York and will be presented as a multi-platform program across MTV, MTV2, mtvU, MTV Tr3s, MTV.com and on MTV Mobile on V CAST.

    ‘MTV Live’ powered by Verizon Wireless will premiere the first episode on 6 February at 11:30 pm with a commercial free performance by Fall Out Boy.

    Artists Nas, Akon, and Gym Class Heroes have been booked for future shows.
     
    ‘MTV Live’ will be specifically customized for each screen. In-show features will include a live text-to-screen element that will allow Verizon Wireless subscribers to submit comments and shout-outs from their cell phones that will appear as a crawl across the bottom of the screen in real-time during the show.

    Additionally, video footage shot on cell phones during the performance will be edited into several of the platform offerings. MTV Mobile on V CAST will feature exclusive performance content from each show and will also offer artist interview segments. “MTV Live” will be available online at http://www.mtvlive.mtv.com/.
     
    “MTV Live is a new way for us to connect music fans with their favorite artists by incorporating a wide variety of on-air, online and on-mobile elements throughout every show,” said MTV President Christina Norman. “This partnership with Verizon Wireless enables us to make the biggest footprint for the artists across multiple screens and really bring the live performance experience to our audience on different devices.”

    “MTV and Verizon Wireless are two powerful brands, with significant relationships in this rapidly changing music landscape,” says MTV senior vice president integrated marketing Tim Rosta. “This program will result in a strategic alliance that will amplify these relationships and bring new music to a larger audience.”

  • MTV Networks and Nexon announce ‘global online’ gaming partnership

    MTV Networks and Nexon announce ‘global online’ gaming partnership

    MUMBAI: MTV Networks and international game publisher Nexon have announced a partnership to create a new user experience for MTVN’S Neopets. one of the youth communities on the internet, and includes MTVN’s marketing of the launch of Nexon’s casual MMOG game titles in North America via its portfolio of television and online brands.

    The announcement was made by MTVN kids and family group executive vice president Stephen Youngwood and Nexon Japan CEO David Lee at the GSTAR 2006 Gameshow.
    Two of the first titles to be marketed under the alliance will be Maple Story and Kart Rider .

    This new service will provide users the ability to purchase premium level virtual items for customisation and personalisation, in addition to those currently available on the site. Nexon will also provide marketing and promotional support in Asia across its games portal for the new Neopets services.

    MTVN will also become a strategic marketing partner for the launch of Nexon’s first three games to be distributed in North America. Marketing campaigns will be run across a portfolio of MTVN television and online brands including MTV, MTV2, MTV U, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, The-N, Neopets.com, Shockwave.com, Addictinggames.com, Gametrailers.com and XFire.
    “We are delighted to establish this mutually beneficial partnership with one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms and the premier media partner in North America for Nexon’s wide ranging target audience. We are confident that through the alliance, Neopets will gain strong momentum in successfully serving its users with more value added services and that Nexon will be able to rapidly expand in the North American market,” said Lee.

    Neopets senior vice president and general manager Kyra Reppen added, “We are very excited about this opportunity to further widen the creative net for Neopets. This premium level experience will provide our members with an exciting new means to enhance their personal involvement with the site and represents a significant new business opportunity for our company in Asia, where Neopets will benefit tremendously from Nexon’s creative and marketing expertise.”

  • Viacom’s Q1 revenues up 12 per cent to $2.37 bn

    Viacom’s Q1 revenues up 12 per cent to $2.37 bn

    MUMBAI: US media conglomerate Viacom has reported a 12 per cent rise in revenues at $2.37 billion for the first quarter ended 31 March 2006.
    Eight per cent of the revenue increase was attributable to the acquisition of DreamWorks on 31 January 2006. The growth in revenues reflects a seven per cent increase in the cable networks segment, and a 25 per cent rise in the entertainment segment, including DreamWorks.

    Ad revenues, which accounted for 36 per cent of total revenues in the quarter, increased three per cent versus first quarter last year, while affiliate fees, representing 21 per cent of total revenues, increased by nine per cent.

    Feature film exploitation accounted for 34 per cent of total revenues, an increase of 26 per cent. Ancillary revenues, which accounted for nine per cent of total revenues for the quarter ended 31 March 2006, increased 14 per cent versus 2005 first quarter results.

    In the cable networks segment, US channels revenues were up six per cent. This was partially offset by a decline in international ad revenues of 13 per cent due principally to lower ad spending and change in channel format in the first quarter of this year in Germany.

    Affiliate fees were up nine per cent in the first quarter of 2006 with subscriber increases and rate increases both contributing to the growth. Subscriber increases were led by distribution growth at domestic channels including Digital Suite, MTV2, Tempo and Noggin, which added an aggregate of over 40 million subscribers.

    In addition Logo, which launched on 30 June 2005, now has 20 million subscribers. Rate increases were strongest among MTV Networks core channels, led by Nickelodeon and MTV. Ancillary revenues were up 15 per cent in the first quarter of 2006, driven primarily by a 36 per cent increase in home video/DVD sales, higher syndication fees resulting from the availability of South Park as well as other licensing and merchandising revenues contributing to the improved performance versus 2005.

    Operating income in the cable networks segment rose by eight per cent to $621.1 million in the first quarter of 2006 from $577.5 million in the first quarter of 200. Higher revenues were partially offset by a seven per cent increase in operating expenses.

    The increase in operating expenses primarily reflected higher programming costs across domestic channels for shows including The Daily Show and The Colbert Report which air on Comedy Central; acquired movies and Fresh Baked Video Games at Spike; Next, Making the Band and Laguna Beach at MTV; Miss America Pageant on CMT and Lil’ Kim, Countdown to Lockdown and CollegeHill at BET.
    Increases for these shows were partially offset by the non-renewal of the WWE package at Spike and the ending of Osbournes and Newlyweds – Nick and Jessica on MTV.

    Home entertainment revenues increased by $48.5 million, or 13 per cent to $421.8 million, inclusive of DreamWorks library titles contribution of $74.4 million. Other home video releases for the first quarter 2006, such as Hustle & Flow, Yours, Mine & Ours and Elizabethtown underperformed 2005 releases including Collateral, SpongeBob SquarePants and Without A Paddle.

    Television license fees increased by 30 per cent to $220.4 million, including $55.6 million of DreamWorks related revenues which accounted for all of the increase. Worldwide theatrical revenues in 2006 increased by 50 per cent or $39.5 million to $118.9 million. DreamWorks titles She’s the Man, Munich and Match Point added $42.6 million in the quarter, partially offset by declines as Failure to Launch and Last Holiday, in theaters in the first quarter of 2006, underperformed 2005 titles including SpongeBob SquarePants, Lemony Snicket and Coach Carter.

    Ancillary revenues increased by 78 per cent to $63.8 million driven primarily by increased revenues related to the rental of studio space.

    Commenting on the result, Viacom executive chairman Sumner M. Redstone said, “The exceptional businesses and strong brands of Viacom are very well-positioned as we move into an increasingly multi-platform environment. Looking ahead, we believe we can create long-term value for our shareholders and outperform the industry as we deliver our content in more ways than ever before to even larger audiences.”

    Added Viacom president, CEO Tom Freston, “There’s great excitement and momentum at Viacom. First off, we completed our first quarter as a new, focused and more nimble company. We closed the acquisition of DreamWorks and sold the library, continued to make strong progress in the execution of our digital strategy and hit many all-time viewership highs at MTV Networks and Bet Networks. We did face some challenges in the overseas ad market, but we have already taken steps that we believe will put that business back on track to deliver on its growth potential.

    “Overall we’re pleased with the way our company performed, and are continually working to ensure that investors fully realize the success of our strong brands, film, cable and digital content and multiplatform opportunities. I’m very comfortable with our progress and our outlook, and am confident that we’ll meet our 2006 goals.”

  • MTV2 plans to launch in India

    MTV2 plans to launch in India

    MUMBAI: MTV Networks India is expanding its bouquet of channels. The latest to plan an entry into India is MTV2, a channel from the Viacom stable which has a mix of music videos, long form music programmes and a line-up of irreverent, lifestyle and cross platform programming focused on youth and pop culture.

    MTV2 has registered for downlink licence. The other channels in the family which are already operating in India are MTV, Nick and Vh1.

    “We have applied for downlink licence for MTV2. This is in line with our plans to increase the MTV Networks franchise in India,” says MTV Networks India spokesperson.

    As for whether MTV2 would be specifically for direct-to-home (DTH) or be made available on cable TV networks as well, the spokesperson declined to provide further details. “It is too pre-mature to elaborate on our plans at this juncture,” he said.

    That the company was looking at expanding its operations in India was stated earlier by former MTV Networks Asia Pacific president Frank Brown.

    In an interview with Indiantelevision.com, he had said, “We are looking at a lot of ideas, including some potential channels for DTH. We are eyeing the launch of new genres of channels. We would like to explore some original channels in India and then probably use it as a test case for launching in other markets.”

  • Paramount Pictures to premiere ‘M:i:III’ trailer across MTV Networks

    Paramount Pictures to premiere ‘M:i:III’ trailer across MTV Networks

    MUMBAI: Paramount Pictures will premiere an exclusive look at this summer’s most highly anticipated action-thriller, Mission: Impossible III (M:i:III) as Tom Cruise introduces the new trailer across MTV Networks on 16 March.

    The trailer will air simultaneously on MTV, MTV2, VH1, CMT, BET and Spike TV on 16 March, one day before it runs in any movie theater. The exclusive material will also be available on the internet at mtv.com, mtv2.com, vh1.com, cmt.com, spiketv.com, and at iFilm.

    The film, starring Tom Cruise and directed by J.J. Abrams, the creator of Lost and Alias, opens in theaters in the US on 5 May 2006.

    Paramount Pictures president of worldwide motion picture marketing Gerry Rich said, “Tom and J.J. have come through with an amazing action movie and we think viewers across MTV networks will agree that M:i:III is the first must-see event film of the summer. When you’ve got the goods, it’s exciting to be able to share it with the audience in a special way. We’re thrilled to be pulling out all the stops with our partners at the MTV Networks.”

    Cruise returns as special agent Ethan Hunt, who faces the mission of his life in Mission: Impossible III. Abrams brings his unique blend of action and drama to the billion-dollar franchise.